Sermon notes: Facing Goliath

Facing Goliath

Measuring up the problem: 1st Samuel 17:3-11
Goliath's height--- Six cubits and a span equals 9foot 9inches
Goliath's strength--- his coat of brass weighed 125-194 pounds
Goliath's Weapons--- the tip of his spear weighed 17-23 pounds
Goliath's Training--- He was a man of war from His youth (verse 33)
Goliath,s Support--- The entire army of the Philistines stood proudly behind him
No man in the army of Israel dared to fight against this great enemy and so for forty days Israel was openly put to shame by Goliath, then...

Israel's salvation comes in the form of a food delivery, verses 17-18
David hears Goliath defying the God of Israel, verses 23-26
David's brother accuses Him of doing wrong, verse 28
David decides to fight Goliath, verse 29-32
Verses 33-37 David convinces the king to allow him to fight Goliath, David did not just muster up momentary courage in order to quickly do the right thing before he changed his mind, he had to plead with others to let him face Goliath.
a. The lives of others were at stake (if he lost Israel would serve the Philistines).
b. his countrymen had no faith in him.

So we see that it was not just a momentary courage mustered in the heat of the moment.
Verse 40 tells us what David chose to fight with

Measuring up David
David's strength--- he was ruddy and fair, not really a big strong soldier
David's Weapons--- he had a staff and a sling, and no defensive weapon
David's Training--- although David had previously killed a bear and a lion (verses 34-36) as far as we know he had no training in war against a man of war.
David's support--- His own family, his own people, even his own king did not believe he could face Goliath and win, he had little to no support.

So why did David win?
Verses 45-47 David trusted God, David knew God would win the battle for him, David had faith.

When it comes to the Goliath's in our lives, wether they are people, circumstances, illness, or even the death of a loved one we have three choices,

We can see only the problem and all it's apparent might and power as the Israelites did
We can look at our own inabilities as Saul first told David that he would not be able to face Goliath, he wasn't strong enough, or big enough, or well trained enough.
Or we can see as David saw, that the battle is not ours to fight, and we can trust God and give it over to Him,

1st Peter 5:7    "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

John 16:33    "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

If you are a Child of God tonight, then our Savior has already fought and won all the battles that we will ever face, and we can lean on Him and trust Him to see us through.

But if you are not a child of God today every battle, every hardship is yours and yours alone, it doesn't have to be that way though,

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Romans 10:13    "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."


Jeffrey S. Lynn